C'est tout de même flatteur d'avoir fait tant d'élèves!... 1838

Curator: Honoré Daumier created this lithograph in 1838, calling it, "C'est tout de même flatteur d'avoir fait tant d'élèves!...", which translates roughly to "It’s still flattering to have had so many students!". Editor: Right away, I’m struck by the frenetic energy and implied social commentary; it feels both humorous and deeply critical of something bubbling beneath the surface. Curator: I love how you picked up on that tension! Daumier was a master of capturing the spirit of 19th-century Paris, skewering its pretensions while acknowledging its vibrancy. Notice how he uses caricature—exaggerated features, poses—to emphasize character. The lithographic process allows for fine lines but also those broad strokes which contributes to the dynamism we both feel. Editor: Absolutely. The foreground figures are sharply defined against a backdrop of looser, more chaotic strokes suggesting both the anonymity and clamoring of the masses in that time and place. It’s the semiotic relationships really driving home Daumier's point here: wealth contrasted with want and the folly of misplaced faith. Curator: And faith in what, exactly? This is where that satirical sting comes in. Look at the billboards in the background: “Capital: 100,000,000" blares above "Actions". The whole scene seems to comment on this rampant speculation, maybe the intoxicating, destructive illusion that rapid financial advancement is some grand calling for people! Editor: A brilliant and brutal assessment of an economic ideology on its day, rendered immortal by its execution! Each detail feeds into Daumier's narrative about inflated egos and precarious financial systems. His social observations become even richer the more you delve into the detail of the print's rendering of people and place. Curator: Right, and that's the paradox with Daumier; there's genuine admiration and maybe a hint of pity mixed with his barbs. So what began as commentary also reads to me like a compassionate exploration into collective self-deception, really. Editor: Yes, by making this connection Daumier invites reflection on the nature of societal follies that continue to speak through time and across geography. I agree this speaks volumes even today!